Group Brainstorming Techniques [Types of Brainstorming that Work]

Key Concepts:

• Brainstorming techniques
• Meeting facilitation
• Quantity vs. Quality in brainstorming
• Root cause analysis
• Creative thinking
• Team collaboration
• Structured brainstorming

1. Pre-Brainstorming Considerations:

• Meeting Goals: Clearly define the purpose of the brainstorming session to prepare participants mentally. Brainstorming sessions differ from resolution or efficiency sessions.
• Invite the Right People: Include individuals directly involved in the project and those with different thinking styles or from different departments to introduce diverse perspectives.
• Quantity over Quality: Emphasize generating a large number of ideas initially, with refinement occurring later.
• Facilitator: Designate or hire a facilitator to guide the process. The facilitator should not be a primary idea generator.
• Icebreakers: Use multiple icebreaker activities to encourage creative thinking and break participants out of their usual work mindset.
• Time Management: Strictly time each exercise to maintain focus and encourage rapid idea generation.

2. Brainstorming Techniques:

• Round-Robin Brainstorming:
  • Process: Go around the room, with each person building on the previous idea.
  • Variations: Can be done verbally or in writing (passing a paper).
  • Key: Ensure everyone participates and challenge participants to think differently.
  • Post-Exercise: Review and discuss the generated ideas as a group.
• Charette Method:
  • Application: For brainstorming multiple topics with large groups and limited time.
  • Process:
    • Set up easels with flip chart paper, each with a different topic.
    • Divide participants into teams and assign them to a flip chart.
    • Teams brainstorm on their assigned topic for a set time (e.g., 5 minutes).
    • Teams rotate to the next easel and build on the existing ideas.
  • Facilitator's Role: Emphasize clear and detailed writing for subsequent teams.
• Five Whys:
  • Application: Identifying the root cause of an issue.
  • Process:
    • State the problem.
    • Ask "Why is that happening?" and provide a potential reason.
    • Repeat the "Why?" question four more times, each time addressing the previous answer.
  • Goal: Reach a controllable root cause that can be addressed with a solution.
  • Quality Check: Work backward from the identified root cause to ensure it logically leads back to the original issue.
  • Note: The repeated questioning can sometimes frustrate participants.
• Figure Storming:
  • Application: Encouraging creative thinking by adopting different perspectives.
  • Process:
    • Identify the issue or idea to brainstorm.
    • Select a list of famous people or characters (e.g., Trump, Oprah, Superman).
    • Divide participants into teams and assign each team a famous person/character.
    • Teams brainstorm how that person/character would approach the issue.
  • Goal: Break free from preconceived notions and generate unconventional ideas.
• Brainstorm Competition:
  • Application: Generating a large quantity of ideas in a fun, competitive environment.
  • Process:
    • Divide participants into teams.
    • Assign each team to an easel with flip chart paper.
    • Give teams a time limit (e.g., 5-10 minutes) to generate as many ideas as possible.
    • Award a prize to the team with the most ideas.
  • Prize Examples: Lottery tickets, candy, or other inexpensive items.

3. Key Arguments and Perspectives:

• The video emphasizes the importance of structure and facilitation in successful brainstorming sessions.
• It argues that quantity is more important than quality in the initial stages of brainstorming, as a large pool of ideas provides more material for refinement.
• The video promotes the inclusion of diverse perspectives in brainstorming sessions to generate more innovative ideas.

4. Notable Quotes:

• "Brainstorming is about quantity not quality, so when you're brainstorming, don't worry about perfection, I promise you, you can do that afterwards."
• "Dump dump dump, don't worry about perfection."
• Regarding the Five Whys technique: "...sometimes we say duck, because people get pissed off with you, when you keep on asking them why, why, why, why, why but it works, I promise."

5. Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Facilitator: A person who guides and manages a meeting or brainstorming session.
• Root Cause Analysis: A method for identifying the fundamental reason why a problem occurs.
• Continuous Improvement Methodology: A systematic approach to enhancing processes and outcomes.
• Controllable Root Cause: A root cause that can be addressed with a practical solution.

6. Logical Connections:

• The video begins by highlighting the value of group brainstorming and then transitions into essential pre-brainstorming considerations.
• Each brainstorming technique is presented with a clear explanation of its process, application, and benefits.
• The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of structure and providing a resource for establishing meeting rules.

7. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video provides a practical guide to conducting effective group brainstorming sessions. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, structure, and diverse perspectives. By employing the techniques described, facilitators can create an environment that fosters creativity, generates a large quantity of ideas, and ultimately leads to innovative solutions. The key takeaway is that successful brainstorming requires a balance of structure and freedom, with a focus on quantity in the initial stages and quality in the subsequent refinement process.